Mets Hope Back Dozier Does More Than Fill Hole

May 17, 1992|By Bob Klapisch, New York Daily News

LOS ANGELES — He swings a 32-ounce Louisville Slugger like it was a Wiffleball bat, looks great in a uniform, and he's an athlete. But, the Mets watch D.J. Dozier and ask: Is he really a baseball player?

The Mets hope for an answer in the next few weeks while Dozier fills Vince Coleman's and Dave Gallagher's roster spots. Losing two outfielders has left the Mets' bench quasi-naked, but the front office privately is thrilled at the chance to place Dozier under its microscope.

For two years, he has been an organizational curiosity. A running back for the Detroit Lions in the fall and a minor-league outfielder in the summer, Dozier still hasn't picked between his passions. Conversely, the Mets still aren't sure if Dozier can handle the 90-plus fastball, which is one reason they haven't committed enough money to compete with the NFL.

''I think D.J. has the skills to be a quality everyday major-leaguer, but right now, it would be a risk to spend $200,000 or $300,000 on him,'' operations chief Gerry Hunsicker said. ''This is not the same situation as Deion Sanders or Bo Jackson. D.J. hasn't been a two-sport athlete since college like those guys.''

Dozier hit .297 at Class A in '90, graduated to Double A later that summer, and hit .324. Last year at Double A, he hit .278, then climbed to Triple A and batted .269. But every August, Dozier would quietly leave the Mets and return to the NFL. You wonder if 1992 will be different.